Policy Governance, developed by John Carver, is a cutting edge operating system for Boards of Directors. It focuses on helping the board be accountable to the owners and CEO being accountable to the board. The only complete system of governance known in the world today, Policy Governance offers a rational framework that allows for effective and efficient governing.

Improving Skills in Policy Governance

This section is designed for those who have already decided to pursue or improve the practice of Policy Governance. It offers many explanations of key concepts, examples of processes, tools for doing your work and tips for growing in your ability to do it well. Please explore!

Developing Operational Definitions

Basics
Should provide:

A working definition with enough detail that it could be operationalized (put into action).

This usually requires narrowing down certain aspects by being more specific in the definition.

It also usually includes setting some standard of achievement.

Fit within a reasonable interpretation of the board’s policy (not extending beyond it or being so narrow as to not really address the fullness of the issue).

Has to be testable. Enough detail is provided such that it could be put into action and then tested for whether or not it was working.

From an employee’s Eyes

Looking at the policy language, what else would I need to know about (have futher defined) from the CEO in order to actually design and implement a system or process to deal with it that would meet their broadest expectations?

From the Board Assessor’s Eyes
There are a number of assessments they typically must make:

Is an operational definition provided (enough detail, see how it impacts the organization, testable).

Is the definition reasonable?

Does it fit within the range set in the policy and does it cover a broad enough range of circumstances so as to represent what the policy suggests?

Is a source or rationale provided which helps me assess its reasonableness?

Is there a way to measure whether or not it is working?

Does the data actually show that the standard of achievement is being met?